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“You make him sound like a hero,” the student who had helped Jackson said.
“That’s because he is.”
Jackson squinted into the shadows, but he still couldn’t see the speaker. The students in the first few rows, however, turned back toward the stage, waiting for him to respond.
“I’m not a hero,” he said. “People who were important to me were in danger so I had to do something to help them.”
“That does sound sorta heroic, Doctor Henley,” the student who had asked about him getting shot said.
“But heroes also do some supremely stupid things too,” the voice said, causing chuckles and chatter to sift through the lecture hall.
Who was this person? He didn’t recognize the voice, but it did sound as if it was purposely lowered and a little raspy. Jackson didn’t like not being able to see the person. He also didn’t like that his class was getting derailed on his first day.
Off to a great start. On a job he didn’t want.
He was about to kindly ask this person to allow him to begin class when another student asked, “What did he do that was so stupid?”
“I’m glad you asked,” the voice said. “Those important people that Doctor Henley mentioned?” A few yeahs and uh-huhs sounded. “After getting shot to help rescue them... he left them.”
“Like with the bad guys?” a student asked.
Jackson cringed. “I didn’t leave anyone with the bad guys.”
“No, he didn’t,” the voice said. “He left them with broken hearts.”
“That sounds just as bad, man,” the tech help student said, frowning at Jackson.
“Indeed.” The voice was closer now and Jackson longed for a spotlight. Who was this person, busting into his class, serving up details no one here could know?
“Can he redeem himself?” a female at the end of the first row asked. “In romantic movies, the characters always have a chance to redeem themselves.”
This was getting out of control. Jackson wasn’t going to let his class turn into a reality TV show. He was there to teach and the students were there to learn. He wouldn’t let any more of their time—or tuition—go to waste.
“My redemption is not the subject of this class,” he said. “I think it’s time we got back on track.”
“Getting back on track,” the voice said, “is exactly why I’m here.”
Movement after the third row made Jackson focus his gaze there. A moment later, a woman stepped into the light and he nearly fell off the stage.
“Isabel?” He had to be imagining her. Maybe he was still in bed back in his tiny apartment, dreaming of her. Maybe he’d lost too much blood after being shot and never made it out of Maplehaven.
Perhaps he was dead.
But the Isabel-looking woman walked toward him. She climbed the side steps of the stage and joined him near the podium. A quiet hung over the entire lecture hall as the students got treated to something besides an archaeology class.
“You’re not really here,” he said dumbly, making the students chuckle again.
A sharp index finger poke to the chest assured him that someone was definitely standing on the stage with him. But was that someone actually Isabel?
His Isabel?
“I’m really here.” She turned to face the students. “Super sorry for interrupting your class, but one of you mentioned romantic movies.” She pointed into the darkness of the hall. “You know how in those movies, one of characters does a grand gesture to get the other character’s attention?” She faced Jackson as agreement filtered through the students. “This is one of those grand gestures. This is my grand gesture to tell you, Doctor Henley, that you’re a rare artifact. One I found years ago. One I’m not giving up again. You’ve had a place in my heart since we were teenagers. We reconnected one night when you extended kindness to my dog and you filled my heart again. Being apart now is not an option.”
Jackson took in the sight of Isabel—because yes, it was her. Only Isabel could say those things and reach right inside him to grab his heart. His heart that belonged to her and would only ever belong to her. She was everything he wanted in this life. Everything.
Maybe that was selfish of him. To let himself have her. To potentially put her at risk again. But being without her was a risk too. For both of them.
He reached out his good arm and took her hand. A few excited squeals emanated from the students and he smiled when Isabel crossed the fingers on her free hand and waved them at the students.
